EDF5635 - Leading capable organisations - 2018

This unit focuses on what leaders, as formal and informal organisational actors, have to do to foster and nurture capability as an ongoing property of organisational life, in order to meet organisational purposes in intelligent and sustainable ways. It explores the concept of a capable organisation and examines what is required to lead, manage, and administer a capable organisation effectively. Students learn about ways to understand and evaluate how organisations approach the ongoing problems of adaptation and change that they face. They consider how, on the basis of research evidence and best practices, policies and decisions may be formulated and implemented to address these problems effectively. Students also explore leadership strategies for cultivating optimal utilisation and development of organisational assets. This includes leveraging available cognitive and intellectual resources, capacities for inquiry and learning, and capabilities for innovating and creating a desired future.

Upon successful completion of this unit students should be able to:

1. understand the characteristics and features commonly found in capable organisations
2. identify appropriate leadership strategies to develop and sustain a capable organisation
3. identify the cognitive dimensions of organisational problem solving and decision making
4. evaluate and communicate the critical roles that human intellect, knowledge, values, emotion, learning, and organisational culture and climate, play in maintaining and sustaining capable organisations
5. locate and critically scrutinise strategies which identify how to design, realise and sustain organisational capability and performance
6. plan a strategy for assessing organisational capability and developing capacity in a particular context.

Case study (4000 words, 50%)

Research essay (4000 words, 50%)

Flexible mode offers a stand-alone online offering that allows students to learn and engage in content and assessment in a supported way. It also provides a face-to-face component over the semester to engage students with the online learning content, which students can attend if they are able and interested.

Minimum total expected workload equals 288 hours per semester comprising:

1. Contact hours for flexible students:
   • 12 contact hours and 24 hours equivalent of online activities over the semester or
   • 36 hours equivalent of online activities over the semester
2. Requirements for offshore Kaplan-based students:
   • one intensive block (usually from Thursday to Sunday)
   • at least 14 hours of online study per term
3. Additional requirements (all students):
   • independent study to meet the minimum required hours per semester

See also Unit timetable information

Recommended for Master of Education in:

Educational leadership and policy

Option for Master of Education in:

General education studies

Required for Master of Leadership in:

Organisational learning

Option for Master of Leadership in:

Leadership